Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Calls for Education Reform

Criticizes both parties for failing American students, proposes solutions to improve K-12 and workforce development

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:24pm

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A visually striking silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeating pattern of brightly colored textbooks, conveying the idea of education reform through a bold, modern artistic lens.Rahm Emanuel's bold vision for education reform seeks to move beyond partisan gridlock and reinvigorate America's public schools.Chicago Today

In an interview with Brookings Institution's Jon Valant, former U.S. Ambassador and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel diagnoses the problems plaguing America's K-12 education system. Emanuel argues that Democrats have abandoned standards and accountability, while Republicans have given up on public schools, leaving students to fall through the cracks. He outlines a reform agenda focused on returning to fundamentals in elementary grades, overhauling high schools to better prepare students for college and careers, and revamping workforce training programs to connect workers with in-demand jobs.

Why it matters

Emanuel's critique of both political parties' approaches to education highlights the partisan gridlock that has hindered progress on improving student outcomes nationwide. His proposed solutions, drawing on successes in Chicago and other states, offer a pragmatic path forward to upgrade the K-12 system and strengthen the pipeline between education and the workforce.

The details

As mayor of Chicago, Emanuel implemented a number of education reforms, including extending the school day and year, establishing universal pre-K and kindergarten, and overhauling the high school curriculum to increase college readiness. He credits these efforts with boosting the city's graduation rate from 56% to 83% and sending more students to college. Now, as a former ambassador, Emanuel says his international experience has further underscored the need to "give children in America back their childhood" and restore a focus on the fundamentals of reading and math. He points to successes in states like Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, and Louisiana that have prioritized phonics instruction and reading time in the early grades. For high schools, Emanuel advocates reforms like ensuring all students graduate with college credits, providing free community college, and requiring a post-graduation plan. He also proposes a new workforce development program that would offer $10,000 signing bonuses to military veterans who pursue careers in skilled trades.

  • Emanuel served as mayor of Chicago from 2011 to 2019.
  • He recently announced his new workforce development program.

The players

Rahm Emanuel

Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan and mayor of Chicago from 2011 to 2019, who is now proposing a comprehensive education reform agenda.

Jon Valant

Director of the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution, who interviewed Emanuel for this episode of The Current podcast.

Janis Jackson

Collaborated with Emanuel on education initiatives during his time as mayor of Chicago.

William Bennett

Former U.S. Secretary of Education who called Chicago's public school system the worst in the country when Emanuel took office as mayor.

Sean Reardon

Stanford University professor who later called Chicago's public school system the best in the country after Emanuel's tenure as mayor.

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What they’re saying

“Democrats in my view, by abandoning standards and accountability, have abandoned our kids and our teachers. Republicans have basically said, here's your voucher, go figure it out on yourself. And the truth is you can't really address it that way. And they have basically wanted to basically throw in the towel on public school. And my problem is both parties' extremes. No standards, no funding. Our kids are falling through the cracks.”

— Rahm Emanuel, Former U.S. Ambassador and Chicago Mayor

“Tests are your friends. It's a means to measure what you're trying to achieve. It's not what the end goal is.”

— Principal in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

What’s next

Emanuel plans to further outline his proposals for reforming the community college system and expanding workforce development programs that connect workers with in-demand skilled trades jobs.

The takeaway

Emanuel's critique of both political parties' approaches to education, combined with his track record of implementing successful reforms in Chicago, positions him as a pragmatic voice calling for a renewed national focus on improving student outcomes and preparing the future workforce. His ideas offer a potential blueprint for bipartisan cooperation on education policy.